Aspiration • Resilience • Opportunity • Excellence
A Warm Welcome to our Academy Welcome to Harris Academy Kingswood – an academy which sets high expectations for all our students and supports them to achieve their very best. We seek to develop confident, well-rounded young people who can navigate the modern world with strength and self belief. In doing so, we nurture resilience, depth of character and the determination to persist whatever challenges life may bring. Through the quality of education and breadth of opportunities on offer here, our students leave us well informed, fully prepared and ready to take their next steps whether that is at a Russell Group university, a high level apprenticeship or on a competitive career pathway. As well as equipping our students with core academic skills, we ensure they have the ability to apply them in new and demanding contexts so they can thrive in the world beyond school.
Likewise, we place a strong emphasis on communication, ensuring students become articulate, confident orators – qualities that are highly valued by today’s employers. All our students immerse themselves in the wider life of the academy, embracing enriching activities, building strong relationships and pushing themselves beyond their comfort zones. Our students celebrate impressive achievements during their time with us and we are immensely proud of them. Please come to one of our Open Events to find out more.
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Aspiration, Resilience, Opportunity, Excellence At Harris Academy Kingswood, we believe every young person deserves an education that opens doors, builds character and shapes a successful future.
To achieve this, we: • Empower students to be highly aspirational and to look ahead with confidence and aim high; • Build resilience so that students can thrive in an ever-changing world with strength and self belief; • Encourage students to take advantage of every opportunity; • Provide a place where excellence is not an aspiration, it is an expectation. At Harris Academy Kingswood, excellence is the culture and where every student is supported to become their very best.
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A thoughtful, individual approach to Secondary We understand that moving from primary to secondary school is a significant milestone.
That is why our transition programme is thoughtfully designed to support every student in feeling confident, informed and excited about the journey ahead. Our goal is to ensure that all students are fully prepared for this next stage of their education, and that families feel wellequipped to support them along the way.
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For a well-rounded and challenging experience At the heart of Harris Academy Kingswood is a broad and balanced curriculum that encourages critical thinking, nurtures curiosity and challenges every student to surpass their potential. Purposefully selected content is carefully sequenced to enable students to build deep, cumulative knowledge over time, empowering them to make meaningful connections, question assumptions and apply their learning with increasing confidence and sophistication. Central to this approach is our commitment to developing strong metacognitive skills, ensuring students can plan, monitor and evaluate their own learning effectively, becoming independent and self motivated learners. This knowledge rich and reflective model is underpinned by a firm belief that every young person, regardless of background or individual need, has access to ambitious, high quality learning.
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Our curriculum is designed to broaden horizons, strengthen cultural capital and equip students with the confidence and critical awareness needed to navigate the world. We prioritise intellectual curiosity, reflective thinking and personal growth so that our students can achieve academic success and lead fulfilling adult lives contributing positively and thoughtfully to their communities and society.
So many opportunities to seize Whilst exam results and preparation will always be very important, the extracurricular opportunities we provide open doors for our students by boosting their Cultural Capital, developing a range of personal and social skills and ensuring they leave us as well-rounded citizens. All of our students are encouraged throughout their time at Harris Academy Kingswood to participate fully in the enrichment programmes that we offer, all of which are underpinned by our Cultural Capital Pledge.
We have over 60 clubs across all of the faculties, running before, during and after the school day. In addition, we offer over 25 Student Leadership Roles with over 200 opportunities for students to develop their leadership skills.
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Preparing all to stand out from the crowd Harris Academy Kingswood is committed to preparing students for their next steps, not only through the plethora of extracurricular clubs and Student Leadership Roles available but by cultivating their personal development through the growth of their Cultural Capital. This is the golden thread running through our school enabling us to nurture our students to become wellrounded, curious and responsible young adults. Through our wide enrichment curriculum, which includes cultural, artistic and social activities, we ensure our students not only have the essential knowledge they need to be educated citizens but also to have an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.
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Harris Academy Kingswood is committed to broadening the aspirations of all of our students not only through our successful careers programme but also through our House System and Rewards Programme which recognises students doing right thing and going the extra mile both in and out of lessons.
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Being a part of something bigger The Harris Federation is a not-for-profit charity with 59 academies in London and Essex. The founder and Chairman of the Harris Federation is Lord Harris of Peckham. His vision of delivering happy and successful education is brought to life by an excellent team of teachers and leaders. The Federation regularly tops academic studies and national league tables measuring progress and performance. Almost all Harris secondary academies achieve the highest ratings from Ofsted.
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Harris secondary academies are known for combining traditional standards of manners, discipline and uniform with the best of modern teaching and technology. Across the academies, there are around four applications from parents for every place available. In addition to running schools, the Harris Federation provides high-quality training and professional development for teachers throughout this part of England.
Be part of something different There are 300 places available in Year 7 every September and applications are made through Essex County Council’s coordinated admissions process. We welcome all students and make sure the correct support is put in place for each student where necessary. Supplementary Information Forms (SIFs) are required only for applicants wishing to be considered for the Aptitude for Sport or Performing Arts places. The SIF is available from our website from September in the year of application.
If you are interested in a place, please come to one of our Open Events. We look forward to meeting as many of you as possible. Our full admissions policy – together with the dates of our Open Events – are set out on our website.
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Woodlands Approach, Off Nether Mayne, Basildon, Essex SS16 5BA t. 01268 282146 e. info@harriskingswood.org.uk www.harriskingswood.org.uk